Morning Routine: How Dentist to the Stars Dr. Michael Apa Starts His Day

Successful people around the world have their morning routines down to a fine art. So just how does Doe Deere, founder and creator of cult beauty brand Lime Crime (which is finally available in Sephora Middle East) start her day? Savoir Flair gets a peek into her morning rituals, from the beauty products she swears by to her go-to morning music.

I wake up at 8:30 a.m. every morning – no alarm. I make sure that I get nine hours of sleep every night (everybody’s different, but that’s my optimal number), as good rest is my secret to clear skin! I have a good built-in clock, I guess. I can literally tell myself, “Wake up at 8:30 a.m.” before going to bed, and my body just does it somehow. I am very much a morning person; I love waking up, having breakfast in my kitchen, looking outside the window, and contemplating the day ahead.

I always start my day by drinking a full glass of water. I live in Los Angeles, where the air is very dry, so staying hydrated is key. Once awake and fully hydrated, I do some stretches. I am not the most athletic person, but I do try to stretch every day. My favorite is the “cat/camel” exercise as it makes my back feel nice and loose. After I’ve I stretched, I then proceed to make breakfast. My favorite is grits, which is a type of hot cereal. I also like yogurt, fruit, and freshly squeezed orange juice, which I make using oranges from my own tree.

Photo: Courtesy of @DoeDeere

I live by the calendar on my phone; it pretty much runs my life and it’s the first thing I check when I wake up. I also keep in touch with my team through an internal company chat, so I know what’s going on before I get to the office. I also always have Instagram open on my phone – guilty as charged! And I frequently check and respond to my e-mails throughout the day. But, having said that, I do try to keep my mornings as free from digital information as possible so I can really focus on the creative instead, such as dreaming up new products. E-mails can always be tackled during the day.

I like to listen to my favorite music while I do my makeup. At the moment, I’m obsessed with The Beatles. I grew up listening to Abbey Road on vinyl, so it’s a bit of a trip down memory lane for me.

Photo: Courtesy of The Beatles

I use the Glossier face wash; it’s really mild and smells like roses, which I love! My makeup routine begins with moisturizer – I’m hooked on the Murad ‘Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence’. Then it’s my makeup. First, I apply my foundation, which is either L’Oreal’s ‘True Match Foundation’ to mattify my face or MAC’s ‘Studio Fix’ for when I’m going out. Speaking of foundation, it’s something I’ve been working on lately and I hope to bring one to the market soon!

I set my makeup with powder before filling in my brows, and moving onto my cheeks and lips. Blush and lipstick are my favorite parts of my makeup routine – color brings my face to life! I usually use a pink- or red-colored blush, and then throw on a bold red or pink lip.

Doing my makeup is my favorite part of the morning because I get to spend time with myself and be free.

My go-tos are ‘Rustic’, ‘Red Velvet’, and ‘Pink Velvet’, which are all from the Lime Crime ‘Matte Velvetine’ range. My whole makeup routine can take anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on if I’m in a rush or have a meeting that I need to look extra spectacular for. Doing my makeup is my favorite part of the morning because I get to spend time with myself and be free.

I prefer to shower late in the evening as, that way, my hair is dry and ready to be styled by morning. I use a curling wand to create my signature shiny waves, and I like to wear my hair down to show off my purple color!

I like to spend time with my cats in the morning. I have two Persians, Puffy Fluffles and Chester von Battingham. They’re just adorable and impossible to ignore! I love petting them on the head, kissing them, and telling them that I love them – yes, my cats live like kings!

I arrive in the office around noon, eat lunch, socialize with my team, and then have meetings throughout the day. I try to be done around 6 p.m., unless I’m really on a roll, in which case I will stay until midnight if I have to!

Photo: Courtesy of @DoeDeere

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